German Phrase
Das macht 15 Dollar.
Meaning
Literally, 'That makes 15 dollars.' It is the common way to tell someone the total amount they have to pay, especially in informal settings like cafés, markets, or when a cashier announces the price.
When to use
Use this phrase at a checkout counter, when a server tells you the bill, or whenever you need to state the total cost of something in dollars while speaking German.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dasmacht15Dollar.
Das (demonstrative pronoun)
Used here as a neutral pronoun meaning 'that' or 'it', referring to the total price.
macht (machen, 3rd person singular)
In colloquial German, 'machen' is used to state a price, similar to 'to make' in English.
Dollar (noun, loanword)
A foreign currency name is treated as a masculine noun and capitalized in German.
Number expression
Numbers are spoken as cardinal numbers; '15' is read as 'fünfzehn'.
🗨In Conversation
Das macht 15 Dollar.
That comes to $15.
Hier, bitte.
Here you go.
✕Common Mistakes
Das ist 15 Dollar.
Using 'ist' sounds unnatural for prices; Germans say 'macht' or 'kostet'.
Das macht 15 Dollars.
Currency names are not pluralized in German.
Das macht 15 dollar.
All nouns are capitalized in German.
↔Alternatives
Das kostet 15 Dollar.
That costs $15.
Das sind 15 Dollar.
That is $15.
Das macht fünfzehn Dollar.
That makes fifteen dollars.
Cultural Tip
In Germany the official currency is the Euro, so you’ll usually hear 'Euro' instead of 'Dollar'. When you do hear 'Dollar', it’s often in tourist areas or when dealing with foreign currency. 'Macht' is informal; for a more formal tone you can use 'kostet'. Also, always capitalize currency names in German.